Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

 

Governor Encourages New Yorkers to Keep Using the Tools to Protect Against and Treat COVID-19: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing, and Treatment

47 Statewide Deaths Reported from September 17 to September 19

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19. 

"As we continue to navigate the start of the fall season, I urge all New Yorkers to take steps to better protect themselves against COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "Take advantage of the latest tools and resources at our disposal in order to keep our families and our communities safe. Test before gatherings or travel and if you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options." 

Governor Hochul also announced the availability of bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech for anyone age 12 or older and from Moderna for those 18 or older. To schedule an appointment for a booster, New Yorkers should contact their local pharmacy, county health department, or healthcare provider; visit vaccines.gov; text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations.

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Cases Per 100k - 17.35
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 22.20
• Test Results Reported - 36,930
• Total Positive - 3,391
• Percent Positive - 8.99 %**
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.49%**   
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,102 (+100)*
• Patients Newly Admitted - 814
• Patients in ICU - 224 (+9)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 77 (+8)
• Total Discharges - 342,657 (+597)*
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 47*
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 57,967* 

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.     

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.     

Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.   

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 74,084   

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.   

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows **:   

Borough	Saturday,   September   17, 2022	Sunday,   September   18, 2022	Monday,   September   19, 2022
Bronx	5.82%	5.85%	6.06%
Kings	3.83%	3.80%	3.77%
New York	5.01%	4.97%	5.04%
Queens	6.16%	6.16%	6.11%
Richmond	5.78%	5.76%	5.85%

Attorney General James Calls for Investigation into Puerto Rico Energy Provider

 

Letter to U.S. Department of Energy, FEMA, and FERC Raises Concerns and Urges Investigation

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today urged federal authorities to investigate the energy situation in Puerto Rico, and the energy provider LUMA Energy, LLC. Attorney General James noted that five years after Hurricanes Irma and Maria wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico, and after billions of federal dollars were spent to modernize and strengthen the island’s electrical grid, residents continue to endure frequent outages and high electrical rates. These issues were exacerbated by the impact of Hurricane Fiona, which caused an islandwide blackout. Millions of Puerto Rico residents continue to be without power.

“While I fully support relief efforts underway to help Puerto Rico, I am convinced that we need long-term structural support for the island, not just band aids that take us from one crisis to the next,” said Attorney General James. “One of these structural challenges is the power grid and the electrical supply Puerto Ricans rely on for basic necessities. Puerto Ricans are rightly concerned about the failures of LUMA, the island's electric supplier. I am calling for a federal investigation into LUMA and for critical upgrades and system improvements so that Puerto Ricans are never again left in the dark. Together, we must continue to fight for long-term fixes to stabilize and strengthen Puerto Rico and stand in solitary with our brothers and sisters on the island.”

The letter from Attorney General James was sent to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Richard Glick, urging them to review the situation and ensure LUMA Energy is held accountable for providing safe, reliable, and affordable electric service to the people of Puerto Rico. Attorney General James raised the concern that the cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour in Puerto Rico is approximately double the U.S. national average, which is a substantial burden for the average household in Puerto Rico, where more than 40 percent live in poverty.

Attorney General James noted that the challenges and problems with LUMA Energy extend beyond the company’s failings in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona. Several examples of major issues Puerto Rican ratepayers have endured include:

• A fire at LUMA’s Monacillo substation in June 2021, which resulted in a loss of service to 900,000 customers.
• An island wide outage in April 2022, impacting 1.5 million people after a fire at one of LUMA’s largest power plants, the Costa Sur power plant.
• Two significant blackouts this past August, one of which impacted nearly 20 percent of customers and resulted in a 25 percent loss in generation.

All of these issues are especially disturbing following the significant investment the federal government made in the Puerto Rican electrical grid following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Attorney General James flagged all of these issues, and raised concerns about the LUMA’s planning, preparation, and investment, and urged these three federal leaders to hold LUMA accountable for providing safe, reliable, and affordable electric service to the people of Puerto Rico. 

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - Community Resources & Updates

 

Dear Neighbors,

Thank you for joining us for another week in review. 

 

On Saturday, we hosted an African Heritage Celebration and Festival at Lou Gehrig Plaza! It was a day filled with musical performances, spoken word artists, backpack and grocery giveaways, a parade, face painting and free health screening! It was incredible to be in community to celebrate the various African cultures in our city! Thank you to everyone who joined us.

 

Yesterday, Council Member Kevin Riley and I introduced bills to combat the lack of gender and ethnic diversity in the FDNY. Our city agencies should reflect the great diversity of our city and the FDNY is no exception. We are dedicated to working with the FDNY, DCAS and the City’s Commission on Human Rights to build a more diverse workforce in every sector in our city and to dismantle systemic barriers that prevent women and people of color from joining our first responders. Thank you Speaker Adams, Council Member Riley, the NYC Black, Latino, Asian Caucus, the Vulcan Society, the Arc of Justice and everyone else for their support of these bills and commitment to equity.

 

On Sunday night, just days before the 5th year anniversary of Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Fiona made landfall in Puerto Rico. The category 1 storm caused massive flooding and an island-wide power outage. Hurricane Fiona graduated to a category 3 hurricane this morning as it continued to slam into the neighboring islands of Dominican Republic and Turks and Caicos causing mudslides and heavy rainfall. This is a chilling reminder of the devastating effects of climate change but it is also a call to action and collaboration from all levels of government. We must act quickly and we must provide our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico the necessary resources to recover and prevent further damage in the future. For information on how to help and mobilize, please visit the Hispanic Federation here.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 718-590-3500 or email us at webmail@bronxbp.nyc.gov.

 

In partnership,

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

UPCOMING EVENTS

IN THE COMMUNITY  Our African Heritage Celebration was a success! A special thanks to our incredible sponsors, my team, and everyone who joined us. It was an honor to celebrate our borough’s vibrant African culture in community with community. We won’t forget the courage of our first responders and civilians during the attack on 9/11. We stand with all the families who lost loved ones on that day; and we stand as New Yorkers and Bronxites united and committed to lifting each other, especially during times of pain and grief. The Throgs Neck Little League has been serving our Bronx community, especially our youth, for 70 years. I’m proud to say that Council Member Marjorie Velasquez and myself donated $1.2 million to the Throgs Neck Little League.  The allocation will allow Throgs Neck Little League, in partnership with the Millennial Energy Project, to perform phase two of the improvement project that started in 2016.  The project includes energy generation and electrical storage that will create a net zero facility and reduce area pollution.

Members of the "Bully Gang" Charged in Superseding Indictment with Murders, Racketeering, Arson, Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, and Firearms Offenses

 

 A superseding indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging 26 defendants, including nine members and associates of the violent New York City-based street gang known as the “Bully Gang” with various offenses, including racketeering, murder, drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms offenses.  The superseding indictment includes new charges against the following members and associates of the Bully Gang for three murders and one attempted murder in Brooklyn, New York and Queens, New York committed in 2018 and 2020:

• Derrick Ayers, also known as “Dee” is charged with the March 3, 2018 murder of Jonathan Jackson in Brooklyn.

• Franklin Gillespie, also known as “Spazz” and “Frankie Gino,” is charged with the April 11, 2020 murder of Paul Hoilett in Brooklyn.

• Gillespie and Anthony Kennedy, also known as “Biggie,” are charged with the April 15, 2020 murder of Mike Hawley in Queens.

• Demetrius Johnson, also known as “Q,” is charged with the July 18, 2020 attempted murder of a victim in Brooklyn.

The superseding indictment also charged four new defendants, Tiri Brown, also known as “Tyhoe,” Courtney Foster, also known as “Biga,” Avery Goodluck, also known as “Ave,” and Johnson, with narcotics trafficking charges for their role in a scheme to traffic narcotics between New York and Maine. 

Ayers, Gillespie, and Kennedy were previously in custody on the underlying indictment.  Defendants Brown, Foster, Goodluck, and Johnson were arrested today and will be arraigned this afternoon before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Cheryl L. Pollak. 

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, John B. DeVito, Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Field Division (ATF), Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrests and charges and Jocelyn Strauber, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), announced the new charges.

“As demonstrated by the superseding indictment, the dismantling of the Bully Gang is continuing with its members being held accountable for the cold-blooded murders, mayhem, and narcotics trafficking they unleashed upon the district,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “Reducing gun violence is a high priority for this Office and I commend our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their relentless efforts to do justice to make our communities safer.”

“This superseding indictment shows the relentless efforts of federal, state, and local partners to hold violent criminals accountable,” ATF Special Agent in Charge DeVito said.  “I commend the hard work of the ATF Joint Firearms Task Force, NYPD, NYC Department of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for leaving no stone unturned to charge those who commit senseless acts of violence in the name of loyalty to their gang. ATF’s commitment to protecting the public from violent offenders in collaboration with our partners is unwavering.” 

“Targeting and dismantling gangs and crews, and preventing the violence so often associated with their illegal activities, are among the highest priorities for the NYPD and our law enforcement partners,” stated NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “By focusing on the relatively small number of people responsible for much of the crime and disorder in New York City and beyond, we remain relentless in our efforts to identify and arrest anyone who involves themselves in such senseless acts.”

DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, "Gang violence and drug trafficking jeopardize communities within and beyond New York City.  DOI and our law enforcement partners are committed to hold accountable those who engage in this very serious criminal conduct.  DOI was pleased to assist the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York and our other law enforcement partners on this important investigation."

As set forth in the superseding indictment and other court filings, members and associates of the Bully Gang used force and violence to promote its power, terrorize communities in multiple states and enrich themselves and their members.  Their members engaged acts of violence including murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, and arson.  The superseding indictment adds charges stemming from the gang’s years-long use of violence and brutality to target its enemies.  As alleged, on August 21, 2017, Bermon Clarke, a leader in one of the charged narcotics conspiracies, set fire to a house in Blaine, Maine with at least two occupants inside.  The March 3, 2018 murder of Jonathan Jackson alleged in the indictment was the culmination of an exchange of gunfire that followed a “gender reveal” party in Brooklyn, New York.  As alleged, during a foot chase along Kings Highway, Ayers repeatedly fired on Jackson at close range.  The murders of Hoilett and Hawley occurred just days apart in April 2020.  As alleged, Gillespie targeted Hoilett, approaching him from behind and firing at the back of Hoilett’s head at point-blank range.  Four days later, Gillespie and Kennedy allegedly lured Hawley to a meeting place in Far Rockaway where Hawley was shot and killed.

As alleged, the Enterprise and its co-conspirators also operated a years-long, sophisticated drug trafficking network responsible for trafficking large quantities of dangerous drugs like cocaine base (“crack”), heroin and fentanyl through New York to Maine, and elsewhere.  The enterprise’s drug proceeds were collected on a regular basis and laundered through financial transactions and the purchase of high-value assets, including jewelry and cars.  During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than $380,000 in cash, more than 15 firearms, six kilograms of cocaine, 600 grams of fentanyl, multiple luxury watches, and four vehicles with concealed “trap” compartments installed.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

To date, 53 defendants have been charged as part of the prosecution with 27 pleading guilty.

MAYOR ADAMS, COMPTROLLER LANDER ANNOUNCE ISSUANCE OF NYC’S FIRST SOCIAL BONDS

 

Social Bond Proceeds Will Finance Over 3,000 Units of Affordable Housing in New York City

 

Meets Growing Investor Demand for Investments That Advance Socially Conscious Goals

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander today announced that the city will issue approximately $400 million of taxable general obligation social bonds in October 2022. Proceeds from the sale of these bonds will support more than 3,000 units of affordable housing in New York City and advance the goals of Mayor Adams’ “Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness” plan to provide New Yorkers the safe, high-quality, affordable homes they deserve.

 

This is the city’s first sale of social bonds, which are part of an emerging class of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) bonds that support projects with positive social and environmental outcomes. S&P Global Ratings has provided an opinion that the bonds are aligned with the International Capital Market Association Social Bond Principles, which support projects that fund affordable housing and socioeconomic advancement and empowerment. The S&P opinion is one of the strongest they have issued to date for a social bond issue, assigning grades of “advanced” for use of proceeds and project selection and evaluation.

 

The social bonds are intended to broaden the appeal for the city’s bonds and deepen the investor base by appealing to the strong and growing demand among investors looking for investment opportunities aimed at addressing specific social objectives. As taxable bonds, they are also expected to appeal to pension funds, corporate bond buyers, and asset managers, which are not traditional purchasers of municipal bonds. The proceeds of the sale of these social bonds will be dedicated solely to reimburse city spending on affordable housing projects, prioritizing New Yorkers with the greatest needs.

 

“Building more affordable housing is critical to advancing the vision laid out in our ‘Housing Our Neighbors’ plan,” said Mayor Adams. “This groundbreaking sale of the city’s first social bonds will ensure we are tapping a rising source of investor demand to promote a stronger, more resilient city, while investing in projects that support the positive social and environmental changes we want to see in the world.”

 

“Increasing the supply of genuinely affordable housing is both a critical priority for the City of New York and an attractive investment for socially conscious investors,” said Comptroller Lander. “As demand for ESG investment opportunities grows, the City of New York aims to connect with new investors interested in putting their capital into municipal programs that support more sustainable communities.”

 

In 2021, investors bought approximately $50 billion in new issue municipal ESG bonds, up 79 percent from the previous year. Since 2018, approximately $36 billion of municipal bonds designated as social bonds have been issued, with more than 68 percent designated for affordable housing.

 

This bond offering will finance projects currently in development under the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s Extremely Low- and Low-Income Affordability (ELLA) program, Supportive Housing Loan Program (SHLP), and Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) program. The financed projects will provide an estimated 2,452 homes under the ELLA program, 682 homes under the SHLP program, and 153 homes under the SARA program. More than 70 percent of the units are for households making 60 percent or less of area median income ($72,060 for a family of three), and 909 of the homes will provide permanent housing for individuals and families formerly experiencing homelessness.

 

All of the projects financed are new construction and must comply with the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria (EGCC) or the New York City Overlay to the EGCC or pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v4, gold or platinum certification. Subject to market conditions, the pricing for the $400 million of taxable fixed-rate bonds will take place on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, via negotiated sale led by Citigroup and Morgan Stanley as joint lead managers.

 

Concurrently with the taxable bonds, the city will sell $950 million of tax-exempt fixed-rate bonds. Subject to market conditions, pricing for the tax-exempt fixed-rate bonds will also take place on Tuesday, October 4, via negotiated sale through an underwriting syndicate led by book-running lead manager Citigroup, with BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan Securities, Jefferies, Loop Capital Markets, Ramirez & Co., RBC Capital Markets, Siebert Williams Shank, and Wells Fargo Securities serving as co-senior managers. Retail investors will have priority in placing orders for the tax-exempt bonds during a one-day retail period beginning on Monday, October 3, 2022.

 

The preliminary official statements for the tax-exempt and taxable fixed rate bonds are expected to be available by September 20, 2022, on MuniOS.com.

 

This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy bonds. Bonds may only be purchased through a broker. Prospective investors are encouraged to carefully review the preliminary official statement, which describes the bonds.

Governor Hochul Announces MTA to Install Security Cameras in Every New York City Subway Car

New Funding Supplements Existing Cameras in Train Cars and Stations

Additional Installation of Cameras Results in Entire Subway Fleet Outfitted With Two Cameras in Each Train Car

Latest Measure by Governor Hochul to Deter Crime and Enhance Subway Safety 

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit has received a $2 million award, through the Urban Area Security Initiative federal grant program, which will provide funding for the installation of cameras across the entire fleet of subway cars, enhancing security coverage, and, most importantly, increasing passenger confidence in mass transit safety. The Urban Area Security Initiative is a program under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Preparedness Grants. The funding will enable the purchase of 5,400 cameras to be installed on 2,700 New York City Transit subway cars, two per car. Additionally, the program will fund approximately 3,800 cameras expanding coverage in approximately 130 subway stations.

"My number one priority as Governor is keeping New Yorkers safe," Governor Hochul said. "I am proud that we will be installing cameras on all Subway cars - expanding our security capabilities, deterring crime, and providing our law enforcement with support. As we continue welcoming riders back to the transit system, we will continue doing everything in our power to keep riders safe."

The funding will further strengthen NYC Transit's existing security network of more than 10,000 cameras across all 472 subway stations. The new funding covers the cost of camera installation on 6,355 cars, allowing the MTA to fully outfit every subway car with cameras -- supplementing an existing camera pilot program that includes 200 cameras in 100 subway cars. Additionally, funding from the Subway Action Plan totaling $3.5 million will enable the purchase of 7,310 cameras on 3,655 cars, two per car. The total funding to complete the installations equals $5.5 million. When installation begins an additional 200 train cars per month will have cameras installed until the entire subway car fleet is camera-equipped, which is anticipated to occur sometime in 2025. In addition, when new R211 subway cars are delivered starting in early 2023 they will already be camera-equipped.

This is the latest measure Governor Hochul has taken to deter crime and enhance the safety of New York City Subways. In June, Governor Hochul signed legislation to protect roughly 11,000 more transit workers against assault and harassment. The legislation extended criminal charges to individuals who assault station customer assistants, ticket or revenue collectors, maintenance workers, repairers, cleaners, and their supervisors, who were not protected under previous laws.

State Labor Department Releases Preliminary August 2022 Area Unemployment Rates

The New York State Department of Labor today released preliminary local area unemployment rates for August 2022. Rates are calculated using methods prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The State’s area unemployment rates rely in part on the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month. To recap last week’s statewide press release, New York State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased from 4.3% in July to 4.7% in August 2022.

Local Area Unemployment Rates*(%)
August 2021 and August 2022
(Not seasonally adjusted)

The data in the preceding table are not seasonally adjusted, which means they reflect seasonal influences (e.g., holiday and summer hires). Therefore, the most valid comparisons with this type of data are year-to-year comparisons of the same month, for example, August 2021 versus August 2022. Labor force data for the current month are preliminary and subject to revision as more information becomes available the following month. Revised estimates for prior months are available at: https://dol.ny.gov/local-area-unemployment-statistics

Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, for New York and every other state are based on statistical regression models specified by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are the most up-to-date estimates of persons employed and unemployed by place of residence. Estimates are available for New York State, labor market regions, metropolitan areas, counties and municipalities with population of at least 25,000.

Unemployment Rates By County,
New York State,
August 2022

Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet

This fact sheet conveys important technical information that will contribute to a better understanding of labor force data (“household survey”), including resident employment/unemployment rates, and jobs by industry data (“business survey”), which are presented in the New York State Department of Labor’s monthly press release.

State Unemployment Rates Based on Regression Model

Beginning with data for January 1996, unemployment rates for New York State and all other states (as well as New York City and the City of Los Angeles) have been estimated using time-series regression statistical models developed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Advantage of Regression Model

Use of a time-series regression model reduces the month-to-month variation in unemployment rates and resident employment by reducing variation caused by sampling errors and other components of statistical noise (irregularities).

Benchmarking of Estimates

Once each year, labor force estimates, such as civilian labor force and the unemployment rate, are revised to reflect updated input data including new Census Bureau populations controls, newly revised establishment jobs data and new state-level annual average data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). As part of this procedure, all state figures are reviewed, revised as necessary and then re-estimated. This process is commonly referred to as “benchmarking.”

Changes in Methodology

Labor force estimates are now produced with an improved time-series regression model, which utilizes “real-time” benchmarking. “Real-time” benchmarking reduces end-of-year revisions, which also means that major economic events will be reflected in a more timely manner in state labor force estimates.

In addition, the new methodology includes an updated way of estimating for sub-state areas (e.g. counties, metro areas) the number of unemployed who are new entrants or re-entrants into the labor force. This change in methodology will result in lower unemployment rates in some areas and increased rates in others.

Unemployed and UI Beneficiaries

The estimate of the number of unemployed includes all persons who had no employment during the reference week (the week including the 12th of the month), were available for work, except for temporary illness, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference week. Unemployment insurance (UI) beneficiaries include those who apply for and qualify for UI benefits. Consequently, the estimate of the number of unemployed and the number of UI beneficiaries do not necessarily move in tandem.

Jobs Data

Jobs data are obtained from a separate joint federal-state survey of business establishments. The survey, called the Current Employment Statistics of Establishments, has a sample size of 18,000 establishments in New York State. It excludes self-employed workers, agricultural workers, unpaid family workers and domestic workers employed by private households. This data represents a count of jobs by place of work. Data for each month is revised the following month as more complete information becomes available.

The New York State Department of Labor is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program.

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.